A species of otherwise Unidentified Desert Beasts make an appearance only in the animated series episode "The Master of the Game".
Characteristics[]
The Desert Beasts are large, horned Rhinoceros like creatures, also sharing similarities with another unidentified species that appeared in "Ransom of Redhead". Perhaps like Juroceros, these animals are inspired by the mythological Emela-Ntouka, which was said to look like a Rhino with a long, thick tail, and apparently very aggressive enough to attack Elephants to the death, which was demonstrated by the living Desert Beasts. They can blow hot steam from their snouts, and possess strength fitting for their size and weight.
Professor Ibsen was aware of the existence of these Desert Beasts, as he made a mechanical tank in their image to chase down Alan Parrish for three days and nights, until it fell off a cliff and Alan took control. The Desert Beasts also have a row of spines running along their backs, which Gracie lacks.
Role[]
In "The Master of the Game", after rolling the dice, Judy and Peter are sucked into "JUMANJI" again, this time landing in a desert where they are chased by a Desert Beast that ends up pinning them against a cliff. But a hatch opens up from the creature's head and reveals Alan to be the controller of a mechanized tank that he calls Gracie. Ibsen previously created to chase him and he caught it after it chased him for three days and nights. He the figured out how to operate the machine and decided to use it to use to travel safely across the desert. Judy wonders why Alan called it Gracie, so he explains he lovingly named it after his cocker spaniel he had back in Brantford.
At night, Judy and Peter explain their current clue, which Alan can't figure out the meaning of the first part, but guesses that the rest of it means that they must cross the desert they're currently in, the Great Desert of "JUMANJI". But since no one has ever managed to do that before, Alan thinks that they can do it now they have control of Gracie. The group crosses most of the desert in Gracie, but after finding an oasis with hostile organic desert creatures that Gracie was made in image of, they retreat from the herd as far as they can until Gracie starts falling apart, runs out of gas and deactivates. The trio are surrounded by the actual organic creatures who start attacking Gracie out of curiosity and shows of dominance, but hours later the creatures give up their aggression and fall asleep around Gracie, allowing the three to get out of the tank safely and escape.
